About The Role: As a vital member of the Client Development department, the
Director of Business Development drives strategic growth by generating high-value partnerships for our innovative AJIPHASE® platform-based oligonucleotide and peptide CDMO business within Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services. Reporting to the VP of Business Development, this individual identifies new leads among pharma and biotech innovators and oversees technical project management ensuring precise CMC coordination between North American clients and the AJIPHASE® technical manufacturing teams based in Japan. Additionally, this role includes navigation of contract negotiations and securing of clinical and commercial API pipelines.
Responsibilities:- Generates high-value sales leads and active clinical and/or commercial pipeline opportunities in North America for our AJIPHASE® liquid-phase synthesis technology targeting pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients developing oligonucleotides and/or peptides.
- Coordinates technical project workflows, overseeing standard Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) requirements to guarantee technical alignment with target clients.
- Facilitates direct, cross-border technical communications and operational alignment with the AJIPHASE® expert technical teams based in Japan.
- Negotiates and structures complex master services agreements (MSAs) and technical commercial statements of work (SOW) to win and finalize new client programs.
- Presents technical capabilities of the AJIPHASE® platform to technical executives at industry conferences and scientific forums to develop brand recognition and new leads.
- Travels domestically to build and maintain client relationships across major biopharma clusters, with periodic international travel to Japan to align with AJIPHASE® technical and manufacturing teams.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in a life sciences field (e.g., Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology) or a business degree paired with substantial technical pharmaceutical experience.
- 3-5 years of dedicated experience in Business Development
- 3+ years of hands-on experience with CMC at a pharmaceutical or biotech company, or in a CMC support role at CDMO company.
- Demonstrated familiarity with high-level CRM data architecture and technical CMC documentation workflows.
- Experience collaborating across global time zones.
- Ability and willingness to travel domestically between 25-50% of the time, along with international travel to Japan approximately 2-3 times per year.
Preferred Skills:- Strong CMC-related skills and technical baseline knowledge in chemistry and synthesis of oligonucleotides and/or
- Established commercial network within major global biopharma clusters (e.g., Boston, San Francisco, Europe).
- Direct experience handling cross-cultural communications and corporate operations within a global Japanese or multinational entity.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned.
Work Environment and Physical Demands This position is performed in a temperature-controlled hybrid office environment or remotely while executing business travel requirements. The role requires prolonged sitting or standing at a workstation, intense hand manipulation for continuous computer use, and regular regional or international travel to client sites and production facilities in Japan.
